Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil yesterday refused to be dragged into a running battle on the PM’s nomination of former Tourism Minister Karmenu Vella for European Commissioner, after he hinted that the PN would not back the nomination in Parliament.

Speaking at a party activity on Sunday, Dr Busuttil said that the Prime Minister could not expect the PN to back the nomination since he had chosen not to consult with it on Dr Vella’s nomination.

But when contacted yesterday by The Malta Independent, Dr Busuttil had nothing to add apart from saying that, “at this stage it is up to the Prime Minister to decide which avenue to pursue.” The PN Leader did not clearly state whether the PN will refuse to back Karmenu Vella’s nomination, even when this paper noted that the time for consultaion has passed, since the Prime Minister has already made, and announced, his choice.

It is understood that the PN will wait until the Prime Minister formally reacts to Simon Busuttil’s comments before speaking further on the subject.

This paper is informed that former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had consulted Dr Muscat on Tonio Borg’s nomination even before he had consulted EC President Jose Manuel Barroso.

A few weeks ago Dr Busuttil complained that the Prime Minsiter had not consulted him on his nomination of Marie Louise Coleiro Preca for President. Dr Busuttil said that he had learned of the PM’s nomination from newspaper reports and when the PM finally summoned him, he was not consulted but rather informed of the PM’s decision.

PM ‘skipped’ consultation with EC President

In the meantime it was pointed out to this paper that the Prime Minister had not only failed to consult with the Opposition, but also with the European Commission President, as is usually the procedure.

Heads of State have the prerogative on whom they choose to be their country’s European Commissioner, but they are usually expected to consult with the EC President before announcing such a nomination. But the new EC President will not be elected until after six months after the EP elections. This means that the Maltese Prime Minister has already announced his nominee for the post of EC Commissioner, a full seven months before the person that he is supposed to consult with is elected to office.

The same sources said that during the notorious “grilling” by MEP’s, Commissioner Nominees are subjected to harsh scrutiny and MEPs from rival political groups will try their best to “find the weak link in their armour.” One source suggested that Karmenu Vella could be subjected to a barrage of questions related to human rights issues and the Mintoff governments. The new EP President might object to Dr Vella’s nomination because of this, but having limited power over the issue he might find that his hands are tied since the PM has already let the proverbial cat out of the bag seven months too early.